Telephones with video screens are not new – who can forget Amstrad’s E3 Emailer? The Grandstream GXV-3000, however, is different, incorporating new features which could, just possibly, enable it to succeed where others have failed.

The GXV-3000 is an IP-based phone with support for VoIP (Voice over IP) and the latest Session Initiation Protocol signalling protocol, Sip 2.0, to enable it to handle up to three virtual Sip connections.

It also incorporates a powerful DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and a variety of codecs including H.264.

This compresses video signals recorded at up to 30 frames per second for transmission over relatively low bandwidth connections.

The phone is well built and reasonably priced compared to other video phone products.

Little bigger than other business IP phones, the GXV-3000 is available in black or a rather tacky silver colour.

A 5.6in flip-up colour LCD that incorporates an auto-focusing video camera.

A 10/100Mbits/sec Ethernet port is provided for Lan connectivity, with a second to attach a PC. You get two USB ports, a headset jack and RCA video/audio out jacks. Power over Ethernet isn’t supported, though.

As well as video, a range of voice features are supported, including CallerID, call hold and forwarding and hands-free operation.

Ours came ready configured for use with a Sip service provided by supplier Voiptalk, but others can be configured via the web interface.

But – and it’s a big but – there aren’t many other video phone users at present. The GXV-3000 is being bought by small businesses, but mainly for niche applications.

Affordable video perhaps, but expensive if you only make voice calls.